Question 1

To which of the following challenges are learning curves important considerations?

Accepted Answer

A)  capacity planning 
B)  product designs 
C)  process layouts 
D)  output-based compensation 
E)  demand forecasting 
A)  capacity planning 
B)  product designs 
C)  process layouts 
D)  output-based compensation 
E)  demand forecasting

Question 2

To which worker would learning curves be most applicable?

Accepted Answer

A)  bus driver 
B)  printing press operator 
C)  assembly-line worker 
D)  auto service mechanic 
E)  baker or cook 
A)  bus driver 
B)  printing press operator 
C)  assembly-line worker 
D)  auto service mechanic 
E)  baker or cook

Question 3

According to learning curve theory, for certain kinds of tasks the cost per unit decreases as the number of repetitions increases.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The learning curve principle would apply to a baseball pitcher learning to throw a curveball.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Learning curves are used primarily for mass production applications.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

A job has an 80 percent learning curve. The second unit required 12 hours to complete. Approximately how many hours will be devoted to the first five units (including those already completed)?

Accepted Answer

A)  26 
B)  36 
C)  46 
D)  56 
E)  66 
A)  26 
B)  36 
C)  46 
D)  56 
E)  66

Question 7

If the elapsed time for the task is short and the activity is somewhat routine, a modest amount of improvement occurs during the first few repetitions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

A company is preparing a bid on a government contract for 40 units of a certain product. The operations manager estimates the assembly time required for the first two units to be 10.4 hours and 8.8 hours.
Which unit, if any, will require approximately one-half the time of the first unit?

Accepted Answer

A)  18th unit 
B)  19th unit 
C)  20th unit 
D)  21st unit 
E)  22nd unit 
A)  18th unit 
B)  19th unit 
C)  20th unit 
D)  21st unit 
E)  22nd unit

Question 9

A manager wants to analyze the learning curve associated with producing one of his company's products. Accordingly, he has gathered the following data:  
Approximately how long will it take to produce the fifth through tenth units?

Accepted Answer

A)  15 hours 
B)  16 hours 
C)  18 hours 
D)  20 hours 
E)  21 hours 
A)  15 hours 
B)  16 hours 
C)  18 hours 
D)  20 hours 
E)  21 hours

Question 10

Learning curves generally apply to situations in which there is a high degree of human involvement and tasks are fairly repetitive.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

A job has an 80 percent learning curve. If the first unit took 40 hours to complete, the fourth unit should take roughly how many hours?

Accepted Answer

A)  20 
B)  25 
C)  31 
D)  35 
E)  40 
A)  20 
B)  25 
C)  31 
D)  35 
E)  40

Question 12

A manager is trying to estimate the learning rate for a new job. The first unit took 16 hours and the fourth unit required about 13 hours. The learning rate is:

Accepted Answer

A)  70 percent. 
B)  75 percent. 
C)  80 percent. 
D)  85 percent. 
E)  90 percent. 
A)  70 percent. 
B)  75 percent. 
C)  80 percent. 
D)  85 percent. 
E)  90 percent.

Question 13

A manager wants to analyze the learning curve associated with producing one of his company's products. Accordingly, he has gathered the following data: $$\begin{array} { | l | l | } 
\hline \text { UNIT PRODUCED } & \text { TIME REQUIRED } \
\hline \text { Second } & 5 \text { hours } \
\hline \text { Fourth } & 4 \text { hours } \
\hline
\end{array}$$
Approximately how long will it take to produce the 10th unit?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 hour 
B)  2 hours 
C)  3 hours 
D)  4 hours 
E)  5 hours 
A)  1 hour 
B)  2 hours 
C)  3 hours 
D)  4 hours 
E)  5 hours

Question 14

Once production is underway and the learning curve effect is occurring, successive changes made to the production process will cause the time per unit to:

Accepted Answer

A)  continue following the original learning curve without any impact. 
B)  cause a scallop effect. 
C)  increase the unit time and result in a higher percentage learning curve. 
D)  decrease the unit time and result in a higher percentage learning curve. 
E)  decrease the unit time and result in a lower percentage learning curve. 
A)  continue following the original learning curve without any impact. 
B)  cause a scallop effect. 
C)  increase the unit time and result in a higher percentage learning curve. 
D)  decrease the unit time and result in a higher percentage learning curve. 
E)  decrease the unit time and result in a lower percentage learning curve.

Question 15

The fact that human activities typically improve when they are done on a repetitive basis is described by a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  normal distribution curve. 
B)  learning curvE. 
C)  binomial distribution curve. 
D)  exponential curve. 
E)  fatigue factor allowance. 
A)  normal distribution curve. 
B)  learning curvE. 
C)  binomial distribution curve. 
D)  exponential curve. 
E)  fatigue factor allowance.

Question 16

In which of the following managerial activities would learning curves probably be the least useful?

Accepted Answer

A)  negotiated purchasing 
B)  manpower planning 
C)  location analysis 
D)  budgeting 
E)  pricing new products 
A)  negotiated purchasing 
B)  manpower planning 
C)  location analysis 
D)  budgeting 
E)  pricing new products

Question 17

Suppose the first unit required 800 hours and the second unit required only 680. Which of the following times for the fourth unit would be consistent with a true learning curve scenario?

Accepted Answer

A)  492 
B)  587 
C)  578 
D)  603 
E)  583 
A)  492 
B)  587 
C)  578 
D)  603 
E)  583

Question 18

An 80 percent learning curve means that with each doubling of repetitions there will be a 20 percent decrease in time per unit.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

A company is preparing a bid on a government contract for 40 units of a certain product. The operations manager estimates the assembly time required for the first two units to be 10.4 hours and 8.8 hours.
Approximately how long will it take to produce the 25th through 30th units?

Accepted Answer

A)  23 hours 
B)  49 hours 
C)  29 hours 
D)  38 hours 
E)  It is impossible to say without additional information. 
A)  23 hours 
B)  49 hours 
C)  29 hours 
D)  38 hours 
E)  It is impossible to say without additional information.

Question 20

The more __________ a task, the less likely it is that a substantial learning curve will be in effect.

Accepted Answer

A)  strategic 
B)  capital intensive 
C)  routine 
D)  tactical 
E)  unusual 
A)  strategic 
B)  capital intensive 
C)  routine 
D)  tactical 
E)  unusual

Exam 10: learning curve– Static

To which of the following challenges are learning curves important considerations?

To which worker would learning curves be most applicable?

According to learning curve theory, for certain kinds of tasks the cost per unit decreases as the number of repetitions increases.

The learning curve principle would apply to a baseball pitcher learning to throw a curveball.

Learning curves are used primarily for mass production applications.

A job has an 80 percent learning curve. The second unit required 12 hours to complete. Approximately how many hours will be devoted to the first five units (including those already completed)?

If the elapsed time for the task is short and the activity is somewhat routine, a modest amount of improvement occurs during the first few repetitions.

A company is preparing a bid on a government contract for 40 units of a certain product. The operations manager estimates the assembly time required for the first two units to be 10.4 hours and 8.8 hours. Which unit, if any, will require approximately one-half the time of the first unit?

A manager wants to analyze the learning curve associated with producing one of his company's products. Accordingly, he has gathered the following data: Approximately how long will it take to produce the fifth through tenth units?

Learning curves generally apply to situations in which there is a high degree of human involvement and tasks are fairly repetitive.

A job has an 80 percent learning curve. If the first unit took 40 hours to complete, the fourth unit should take roughly how many hours?

A manager is trying to estimate the learning rate for a new job. The first unit took 16 hours and the fourth unit required about 13 hours. The learning rate is:

A manager wants to analyze the learning curve associated with producing one of his company's products. Accordingly, he has gathered the following data: UNIT PRODUCED TIME REQUIRED Second 5 hours Fourth 4 hours Approximately how long will it take to produce the 10th unit?

Once production is underway and the learning curve effect is occurring, successive changes made to the production process will cause the time per unit to:

The fact that human activities typically improve when they are done on a repetitive basis is described by a(n):

In which of the following managerial activities would learning curves probably be the least useful?

Suppose the first unit required 800 hours and the second unit required only 680. Which of the following times for the fourth unit would be consistent with a true learning curve scenario?

An 80 percent learning curve means that with each doubling of repetitions there will be a 20 percent decrease in time per unit.

A company is preparing a bid on a government contract for 40 units of a certain product. The operations manager estimates the assembly time required for the first two units to be 10.4 hours and 8.8 hours. Approximately how long will it take to produce the 25th through 30th units?

The more __________ a task, the less likely it is that a substantial learning curve will be in effect.

Introduction to Operations Management

Competitiveness

Forecasting

Product and Service Design

RELIABILITY – Static

Strategic Capacity Planning for Products and Services

Decision Theory– Static

Process Selection and Facility Layout

Work Design and Measurement

Location Planning and Analysis

The Transportation Model– Static

Management of Quality

Quality Control

Acceptance Sampling– Static

Aggregate Planning and Master Scheduling

MRP and ERP

Inventory Management

JIT and Lean Operations

Maintenance– Static

Supply Chain Management

Scheduling

Project Management

Management of Waiting Lines

Linear Programming

Filters